Poop deck gone awry

[Alhickman]

My husband and I buil this 4x8 foot run for our first chicks in April 2020. Obviously tried to do our best, but ask 10 people and get 10 answers.
The ladies took to roosting in the front corner,so after learning about a ‘poop deck’ I thought it would work awesome and hired a guy to build me one (I am not handy). However he didn’t really understand my ‘vision’ for a 3x2 poop deck despite meeting in person, photos and follow up texts. These photos are what he installed while I was at work. I will admit it is easy to scrape poop off these drawers that pull out, but the smell is stronger. Do I keep it? Make him modify it? Scratch the idea all together? To be clear I had just put in 3 40# bags of stall bedding that he pulled out to put in this floor/drawers.
I’m pretty irrationally angry about this so need help on how to approach.

 

[RojoMarz]

I understand they are not what your visions was. But, to be honest, I'm not sure what is "wrong" with them. Are the drawers just the white pill out section or the wood things that go to the ground? Are the poop board/tray/deck functional? Too big? Is the smell the issue? Could there be another issue that is causing the smell? My poop boards do not smell, but I do have PDZ on them.

 

[Alhickman]

I understand they are not what your visions was. But, to be honest, I'm not sure what is "wrong" with them. Are the drawers just the white pill out section or the wood things that go to the ground? Are the poop board/tray/deck functional? Too big? Is the smell the issue? Could there be another issue that is causing the smell? My poop boards do not smell, but I do have PDZ on them.

What is PDZ? Unfortunately there is no lip on the drawer to really hold anything on. I guess a question I have is if it’s OK for the chickens to just have these trays to walk on,especially all winter. Or will they hold in cold and damp instead of absorbing.

 

[RojoMarz]

PDZ is granular product and helps to neutralize odor. Also makes it where you scoop poop, instead of scraping boards. Can some lip/edge be added to the tray, so it will hold something?

 

[Alhickman]

PDZ is granular product and helps to neutralize odor. Also makes it where you scoop poop, instead of scraping boards. Can some lip/edge be added to the tray, so it will hold something?

I could probably put a lip on. Maybe the best is to keep the drawers but section them off. Is it ok for the birds to lay in the PDZ? I have 3 chickens who don’t go up to roost and just lay on the floor.

 

[RojoMarz]

I could probably put a lip on. Maybe the best is to keep the drawers but section them off. Is it ok for the birds to lay in the PDZ? I have 3 chickens who don’t go up to roost and just lay on the floor.

I don't see why not. I clean my boards each am. The girls don't lay on the PDZ. I do have one that likes to perch on the lip/edge, but I move her to the perch. This is my setup.

 

[Alhickman]

I don't see why not. I clean my boards each am. The girls don't lay on the PDZ. I do have one that likes to perch on the lip/edge, but I move her to the perch. This is my setup.

I wish we had built a walk in coop. Thank you for your ideas

 

[Big Doggie]

I don't see why not. I clean my boards each am. The girls don't lay on the PDZ. I do have one that likes to perch on the lip/edge, but I move her to the perch. This is my setup.

My coop floor is PDZ about 2” deep. The pullets poop and I use a kitty litter sifter to clean up. Almost no smell and very few flies

 

[aart]

Ehhh, that type coop is not really a good fit for poop boards.
Look like they just added a sliding floor?
Which might work out.
What is the surface material?
PDZ will jam your slider.
Might be better to just slide it out and scrape it off.
But you mention cold.....

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Alhickman]

Thank you. Des Moines, Iowa. Hot and humid in the summer, cold and windy in the winter. I am going to put some shims to the drawers to make a small poop deck and fill in the rest with bedding, and keep that smaller area where they roost. Worry about cold wet building up on that huge area. I need to take some carpentry classes!